Slot machine foe automatic vending of newsfapees



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J. A. RULE. SLOT MACHINE FOR AUTOMATIC VENDING OF NEWSPAPERS.

N0.557,235. Patented Mam'Sl, 1896.

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SLOT MACHINE FOR AUTOMATIC VENDING 0F NEWSPAPERS. No. 557,235.

Patented Mar. 31, 1896.

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I I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I ''J. A. RULE.

SLOT MACHINE FOR AUTOMATIG VENDING 0F NEWSPAPERS. No. 557,235.

PatgntedMar. 31, 1896.

IN DREW E.GR AHAM. PNOTOUTHQWASN INGTON. D C

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. RULE, OF MOUNT W'ASHINGTON, OHIO.

SLOT-MACHINE FOR AUTOMATIC VENDING OF NEWSPAPERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 557,235, dated March31, 1896.

Application filed May 27, 1895. Serial No. 550,750. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN A. RULE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mount \Vashington, in the county of Hamilton and State ofOhio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Slot-Machines for theAutomatic Vending of Newspapers, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention contemplates certain new and useful improvements incoin-controlled machines, and has for its object the production of asimple and inexpensive apparatus for the automating vending ofnewspapers.

A further object is to provide extremely simple mechanism in a machineof this class which will occupy a minimum of space, and which will becertain in its operation, and in which the coin-inlet slot will beclosed when the machine is emptied.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularlypointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation, theinclosing casing being removed. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view. Fig. 3 isa rear elevation. Fig. A is a vertical sectional view on line or m, Fig.3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the locking and releasing mechanism.Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional View on' line y y, Fig. 1. Fig.7 is a plan view thereof, parts being broken away. Fig. 8 is aslightly-modified form of the lockin g and releasing mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings, in which corresponding parts arerepresented by the same letters A A are metallic plates forming theouter walls (aside from the casing) of the device, and B B are alsometallic plates at a distance of from one to two inches from the outerplates A A, thus dividing the interior into three compartments, that inthe center being of sufficient length and height to admit newspapers ofthe ordinary size folded in octavo form. These plates or walls are heldin position by the rods 0 C, Fig. 1, D D, and E, Fig. 3, which arefastened by the nuts a a, b b, and c c. The central compartment is inturn divided by the plate F, Fig. 4, which is slotted at the bottom toadmit the passage of the toothed wheels hereinafter described, as shownin Fig. 4:.

G is a coiled spring (covered by a casing) which when coiled by windingturns its axle d by its impulse to free itself, and in turn the toothedwheel H. e is a small ratchet-wheel upon the same axle d.

The toothed wheel H engages with the pinion f upon the shaft I, whichshaft extends the length of the device, and near its opposite extremityis provided with a speed-governor g, of any well-known form, with whichit engages by means of a toothed wheel h, Fig. 2.

J J are two stop-wheels upon the shaft I, between which is pivoted thesmall antifriction-roller K, one side of which is most completely shownin Fig. 5.

L is a lever-catch, pivoted at I, and provided with the weight j, whichkeeps it engaged with the wheel K when not released by the dropping of acoin.

M is a coin-chute of a size to permit the passage of the desired cointerminating above at a slot 1, through which the coin may be introducedfrom the outside of the device. The shaft I is also provided with threewheels N N N, having teeth out upon them at acute angles, like the teethupon ratchet-wheels. The teeth of these wheels for about one-sixth ofthe circumference are cut off at s, Fig. 4, so that when the revolutionof the shaft is completed the remainder of the paper may be drawn out byhand without being checked by the teeth of the wheels. These wheels maybe made of rubber, metal, or wood. They pass through slots near thebottom of the plate F in order to reach and engage with the newspapersin the inner compartment behind the plate, as shown in Fig. 4.

To the rod D, Fig. 3, two metallic springs O are attached, and to therod E, Figs. 3 and 4, three similar springs P are attached, all of thesesprings exerting their force to hold the newspapers firmly pressedagainst the wheels N and the plate F. The rod E passes loosely throughthe partition-plates A A B B, and in order to give greater force to thesprings P is made to turn by means of the springs m m, which are coiledabout and fastened to the rod and attached to the partitionplates B B.The papers rest upon a small metallic plate Q (shown in Figs. 2 and 4)extending from the rear of the device nearly to the plate F, but bentdownward at right angles so as to-form an opening R for the delivery ofthe papers. As newspapers vary in thickness, as they may or may not havesupplements, in order that the delivery-openin g B may correspond, thebottom plate Q is attached to the partition-plates B B by means ofangleplatcs, through which set-screws it a pass through slotted openings0 0.

To the outer side of the wheel H, Fig. 6, near its edge, are attached anumber of pins 1) 1), set apart from each other at distancescorresponding to the partial revolution made by the wheel with eachentire revolution of the shaft I. These pins engage with projections q qupon a flange of the wheel S, which wheel revolves above the wheel IIupon an independent axle. One of these projections q is of greaterlength than the others and sufficiently long to engage with a block 7'upon the wheel 15, which is set above the wheel S and pivoted upon anindependent axle attached to the cross-piece U, which is fastened uponthe partition-plates A B. The wheel S is provided with a ratchet-wheel sand a spring-pawl If to hold it in place when not moved by the pushingof one of the pins of the wheel II upon the projections q. To the wheelT is attached a wire it, which passes over the pulley o and extendsacross the top of the device to the bell-crank lever in, with a smalllink y, so that when the wheel T is made to revolve the slide .2 ispushed across and closes the slot Z.

The wheel S carries upon it consecutive numbers, from one upward, so asto include as many numbers as there have been newspapers placed insidethe device.

The shaft I may be replaced by a roller having its circumferencesurrounded by some pointed or roughened substance calculated to engageand draw a newspaper.

The object of the engagement of the latch or lever-catch L with a smallroller suspended between the two stop-wheels J J is to diminish thefriction and to shorten the long arm of the lever. It seems obvious thatif the force of the spring G is to be held in check by the lever-catchacting directly upon the stop-wheel a considerable force will berequired for the release or a great length of the long arm of the lever.By the use of the antifriction-roller K the force required for therelease is simply the force necessary to overcome the friction of theroller upon its independent axle without reference to the force exertedupon the shaft or stop wheel. By this arrangement I am enabled to use ashort lever, since it is only necessary to give a slight movement to thelong arm thereof to effect the release of the shaft. The roller beingpartially revolved by the movement of the lever completely frees thestop and allows the shaft to rotate under the action of its impellingforce.

As to construction, should it be preferred, the small wheel K may beattached to the lever-catch, as shown in Fig. 8, and be made to engagewith a projection upon the stop-wheel.

In case it is desired to vend papers for the purchase of which morethanone coin is necessary two or more small wheels may be pivoted upon thestop-wheels J J at a slight dis tance from each other, so that two ormore releases will be necessary for a complete revolution of the shaftI, or two or more stops may be arranged uponthe stop-wheel J, as shownin Fig. 8. It is also proper to remark that the springs O and P shouldbe so adjusted as to hold the papers firmly against the partitionplateF, whatever may be the number of the papers in the device, and to feedthe papers automatically in succession to the wheels or roller. For thespring G any other motive power, as electricity, for example, may besubstituted without materially changing the remainder of the device.

The operation of the device is as follows: The spring G being wound andthe newspapers having been carefully placed in position, when a coin isdropped into the slot I, it passes through the coin-chute M and strikesthe long arm of the lever-catch L. By the force of its impact the catchis released from its engagement with the antifriction-rollcr K, attachedto the stop-wheels J J, and the force of the coiled spring G revolvesthe shaft I, while the coin drops below into a suitable receptacle. (Notshown'in the drawings.) As the shaft I revolves, the toothed wheels e11-gage with the nearest newspaper and force it through thedelivery-opening R, as shown in Fig. 4E. The revolution of the shaftwill. carry the paper about two-thirds through the bottom of the device,"when it can be readily removed by the purchaser. As one revolution ofthe shaft I is completed one of the pins upon the wheel 11 comes incontact with one of the projections upon the flange of the wheel S, anda number upon the wheel S is displayed through a small glass opening inthe outer case. \Vhen the last number is reached, the projection q uponthe wheel S comes in contact with the block r upon the wheel T, whichcauses the wheel T to revolve. This revolution draws the wire a andcloses the slot Z.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a vending apparatus,a rotary deliveryshaft, means for rotating thesame, and means for lockin g and releasing said shaft, the samecomprising a stop carried by said shaft, a roller and a detent-leverhaving two arms, one slightly longer than the other, one of said armsbeing designed to eifect a partial revolution of said roller when saidother arm is moved, thereby freeing said stop and permitting saiddelivery-shaft to rotate, as set forth.

2. In a vending apparatus, a rotary deliveryshaft, means for rotatingthe same, and means for locking and releasing said shaft, the samecomprising two disks carried by said shaft, a cross-pin between saiddisks, a roller loosely mounted on said cross-pin, and a lever havingtwo arms, one slightly shorter than the other and provided with a detentdesigned to engage said roller, whereby when the long arm of said leveris moved the short arm thereof will effect a partial rotation of saidroller thereby permitting said delivery-shaft to rotate, substantiallyas set forth.

3. In a vending apparatus having a compartment designed to hold a seriesof papers, apartition having a series of slots therein along its loweredge, a, rotary delivery-shaftv parallel with said partition and havinga series of toothed wheels thereon extending through said slots, saidwheels having segmental smooth surfaces on their peripheries, mechanismfor rotating said shaft, a governor for controlling the movementthereof, a stop carried by said shaft, and a detent-lever designed toengage said stop, substantially as set forth. 4 4. In a vendingapparatus having a compartment designed to hold a series of papers, saidcompartment having a discharge-outlet, an adjustable bottom forcontrolling said discharge-outlet, a partition having a series of slotstherein along its lower edge, a rotary delivery-shaft having a series oftoothed wheels extending through said slots, said Wheels havingsegmental smooth surfaces on their peripheries, mechanism for rotatingsaid shaft, a governor for controlling the movement thereof, a stopcarried by said shaft, and a detent-lever designed to engage said stop,substantially asset forth. 4 5. In a coin-controlled vending apparatushaving a slot and a discharge-outlet, a rotary shaft, mechanism foroperating said shaft, a

ism, a second wheel engaged by said former wheel, a slide adjacent toand capable of being moved over said slot, a bell-crank lever connectedto said slide, and a cord or wire connecting said bell-crank lever tosaid second wheel, substantially as set forth.

7. In a coin-controlled device for the automatic vending of newspapers,the combination with a shaft provided with gearing for engaging andmoving a newspaper, of means for rotating the same, a wheel engagingwith said shaft displaying consecutive numbers with each revolution ofthe shaft, a second wheel engaged by said former wheel at the completionof said revolution, a slide adjacent to the coin-inlet slot andconnections between the same and said second wheel, substantially as setforth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of twowitnesses, this 25th day of May, 1895.

JOHN A. RULE.

Witnesses:

THEO. KEMPER, EDw. MOULINIER.

